book

SketchUp For Dummies, 2nd Edition

by Bill Fane, Mark Harrison, Josh Reilly

September 2020

Beginner

480 pages

12h 42m

English

For Dummies

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About This BookFoolish AssumptionsIcons Used in This BookBeyond the BookWhere to Go from Here
Picking a Version of SketchUpNavigating SketchUpTaking the 10-Minute SketchUp TourThe SketchUp Frame of Mind
Making a Quick Model from ScratchSlapping On Some PaintGiving Your Model Some StyleSwitching On the SunSharing Your Masterpiece
All about Edges and FacesDrawing in 3D on a 2D ScreenWarming Up Your SketchUp Muscles
Drawing Floors and WallsStaring Down StairsRaising the Roof
SketchUp GroupiesWorking with ComponentsTaking Advantage of Components to Build Better Models
Extruding with Purpose: Follow MeModeling with the Scale ToolMaking and Modifying TerrainBuilding a Solid Tools Foundation

Taking Stock of Your ToolsSeeing the Big Picture: The OutlinerDiscovering the Ins and Outs of TagsPutting It All Together
Painting Faces with Image FilesModeling Directly from a Photo: Introducing Photo-MatchingAdding Geographic DataWorking with Imported CAD files
Building Up a View of 3D PrintingKnowing Your 3D PrintersDesigning for Successful 3D PrintingPreparing a SketchUp Model for 3D PrintingExporting Your SketchUp FileUsing Your 3D PrinterGoing beyond Basic 3D PrintingDesigning Things That Move
Styling Your Model’s AppearanceWorking with Shadows
Exploring Your Creation on FootTaking the Scenic RouteMastering the Sectional Approach
Building a LayOut DocumentCreating Your Own TemplatesPutting Together Your Own ScrapbooksGetting Your Document out the Door
Exporting Images from SketchUp for WebMaking Sure You Export Enough PixelsExporting Enough Pixels for a Digital PresentationPrinting from SketchUp for WebPrinting to Scale in SketchUp for WebMaking Movies with Animation ExportExporting a CAD FileWorking with the 3D Warehouse
SketchUp Won’t Create a Face Where You Want It ToYour Faces Are Two Different ColorsEdges on a Face Won’t Sink InSketchUp Crashed, and You Lost Your ModelSketchUp Is Sooooo SlooooooooowYou Can’t Get a Good View of the Inside of Your ModelA Face Flashes When You OrbitYou Can’t Move Your Component the Way You WantBad Stuff Happens Almost Every Time You Use the EraserAll Your Edges and Faces Have Different Tags
Setting Your Click Style to Click-Move-ClickCustomizing ShortcutsUsing the Inference Locking ForceTransporting Yourself across Space and TimeRounding Off Edges with the Arc ToolUsing the Scale Tool to Set Length for Simple ObjectsTen Extensions for DummiesGetting SketchUp on Your SmartphoneTurning Off Your ProfilesConnecting with the SketchUp Community

Content preview from SketchUp For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 6

Going beyond Buildings

IN THIS CHAPTER

Extruding around circles and along paths with Follow Me

Mastering the Scale tool

Creating 3D terrain with the Sandbox tools

Using the Solid Tools for additive and subtractive modeling

Here’s something you already know: There’s more to life than modeling buildings. Even though SketchUp is really good at letting you make models of built structures, you can use SketchUp to build just about anything you can imagine. All you need are time, ingenuity, and the ability to step back and break down things into their basic parts. SketchUp provides fantastic tools for creating forms that aren’t the least bit boxy, but those tools aren’t as obvious as Push/Pull and Rectangle, so most people never find them. This chapter is devoted to helping you discover SketchUp’s “rounder” side.

Another reason for pushing past basic boxes? Many people see 3D printing (sound of futuristic music and warp drives engaging) as the next vanguard of human innovation, and 3D modeling — like the kind you do with SketchUp — is half of that equation. If you’re going to ...